So last Monday one of the Sorelle left to go home. She left on a mission even though she had a young man at home she really wanted to marry. She was doing fine and loving her mission but one day I guess she just realized where she really needed to be was at home and start a family. Now there are only three Italian Sisters so we kind of have a companionship of three. The addition is Sorella Willey. She's 24 and from Pleasant Grove. I love her :) She's one of the most genuine, kind individuals on this planet. Plus, she is AMAZING at the cello. She began playing at 2 years old and performs in our devotionals every now and then. Everyone at the MTC knows who she is. It really is a priviledge to get to know her better these last three weeks!
Also, I'm so glad I listened to a prompting I had a couple of weeks ago. I began playing volleyball with the other Italian missionaries the second week I was here. I played 2 or 3 times but that last time I really felt like I shouldn't risk it so I stopped halfway through the gym time. Later that week one of the Anziani broke his pinkie 1 week before his district was leaving for Italy. He's still here now and is going home to serve a mission in Germany until his finger heals completely which will be another 2 months. Another Elder in the other district that came in the same day I did re-broke his wrist playing volleyball as well. He has surgery next week and it will be 3 months before he will be allowed to go to Italy. I'm so glad I followed that prompting because I would have hated to re-injure my knee or something else that would have prevented me from going to Italy in 3 weeks!
On Wednesday this last week we had a meeting with the coordinator over our teachers. I guess she has been a little disappointed in the efforts of our districts and she wanted to make sure we re-evaluated our efforts because the 2 new districts were coming in that day. It was actually a really good meeting, especially having been reprimanded. We spent an hour and a half discussing ways we can each be the missionaries we and the Lord wants us to be. It re-inspired each of us that we CAN do this because we don't have to rely on our own abilities. The Lord is always with us if we have faith and are willing to try our hardest.
The 2 new districts are great. They really put all of us to shame. Some have already memorized the first vision in Italian which I hadn't done until this last week. There spirits are so strong and you can feel their desire to go out and serve the Lord. There is so much I have to learn from their examples. I have run into Sorella Olsen a couple of times (the new sister that I graduated with). She told me she saw you and that you told her to tell me "hi". She is SUPER nice and will be a wonderful missionary. She is actually leaving the same day we are because she already knows Italian well enough that she'll only be here 3 weeks. I'm excited to get to know her better and possibly serve with her in the field.
Friday night I had an awesome surprise! Some of the Portuguese Sisters in our Branch were talking to us in our bedroom and I was wearing a Lone Peak T-shirt. One of the Sisters, Sister Thayer asked if I went there because they had just gotten a new Portuguese Sister on Wednesday that went to Lone Peak. When she said her name was Sister Gregory I got super excited and sure enough, after going to their room it was Jessica! I'm so glad I get to spend a few weeks with her :) Mindy Vawdrey also left yesterday to go to Arizona. I loved having a few moments every other day or so to talk to her and discuss our experiences so far. On Saturday I was speaking only Italian all day and so we were able to communicate in Spanish and Italian and almost understand everything each other was saying. It was pretty neat.
A couple of funny stories really fast. So Aunt Jackie had sent me a bunch of mints because we can't chew gum here. Because I love my district I shared them with them because they're all addicted to mints. One Elder, Anziano Wilkinson, always has about 4 rolls of mints with him at all times because he eats them like candy. On Friday I only had one roll left and didn't really want it because I'd had too many. I made the mistake of offering them to someone in front of my whole district. Of course they all raised their hands so I didn't know who to give it to. Anziano Miller told me, jokingly, that I should toss it out into the middle of the room and they could wrestle for them. Not thinking they would ACTUALLY wrestle one another, I threw it out in front of our desks. To my surprise, and everyone elses', Anziano Wilkinson and Anziano Blaga both jumped on it and began literally clawing at each other to get it. Just for a visual, Anziano Blaga is about twice the size of Anziano Wilkinson and we all thought he might die. Luckily he made it out alive, but he didn't get the mints. Oh goodness . . . silly Elders, and silly me for assuming they wouldn't fight each other for a roll of mints. Yesterday one of the Elders from the other district told me "Goodness, I can't believe you're older than me! You look like you're 15!" I then began asking others how old I look. The average age was about 17. Good to know the people in Italy will assume a high school student is trying to teach them the gospel!
The TRC this week was really good once again. The more I rely on the Lord instead of my own abilities (which basically amount to nothing in comparison) the less afraid I get. The investigator was really fun and we had a good time, but I found I could express myself even better. I love speaking Italian. It's funny, but everything seems much more fun to say when you can wave your hands around and speak with huge voice fluctuations and volume :) You know I'm loud, now I'm supposed to be! Our teachers have told us a couple of times that the more you express your self through your hands and the louder you speak, the more the Italians will love you! Yeah, I've seen The Poulson's grandson, Fratello Taylor, quite a few times. At the most we only ever have 4 Italian districts so we know all of the teachers. He's super nice! I'm kind of sad though because one of my teachers, Fratello Stubbs, won't be our teacher anymore after Christmas . . . I know it shouldn't really matter since we'll be leaving a week later, but he has helped me so much, especially in the language. That's alright though, I'm sure our new teacher will having something vital we need to learn and I'm excited to find out what it is.
Tell the Ward's thank you for the gift! And thanks so much for the presents as well! My roommates, Sister White and Sister Jones, said that they saw you Wednesday and that you told them you double wrapped all my presents so that I wouldn't open them . . . am I really that predictable? Haha! Oh, and Sorella Willey said she saw Liesel in the TRC last Monday. She wasn't sure she was my sister until after she checked the volunteer log. And sure enough, it said Liesel LeCates. It's funny that all the people I see every single day have met at least one member of my family. The church makes the world extremely small, but in a good way. Being in the MTC for Christmas has been and will be a wonderful experience. I'm almost afraid to go back into the world where there are so many things that distract from the Spirit. I've almost forgotten but it hit me that in three weeks I'm going to be thrown into a country I've been to, speaking a language I don't know, teaching a people totally different from anything I've known before. I really do need to take every opportunity I can to prepare spiritually for I know the adversary wil try every minute of everyday to break me down. I cannot let Him. In Relief Society on Sunday our speaker told us that we should pray every day that we will be the answer to someone's prayer everyday. Focusing on everyone else makes things so much easier as you grow closer to your Heavenly Father and Savior! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL! My mission has already changed my life and it's only been six weeks! I can't wait to see who my Father in Heaven will have me be :)
Thanks for all your prayers and support! I love you all SO much! Have a wonderful Christmas and know I pray for you all everyday!
Con Tutto Il Mio Cuore!
Sorella LeCates
